PM’s, ministers’ allowances
Thumping fists with raised voices, social media storm, the former Opposition and now Prime Minister ($3000 overseas travel allowances per day) and his ministers went on and on prior to the election on the exorbitant travel allowances by the former government.
Almost a year gone.
The reason given by the Coalition Government is Parliament remuneration allowances have to go through Parliament.
Well, the Media Industry Development Authority Act was repealed faster than a speeding bullet along with a few more, amendment to the nightclub hours and other priority items on the Government’s “to do list”.
In any event, reduction of travel allowances will ensure that our beloved ministers will up their game, by travelling twice as much!
Great business for Fiji Airways, and by travelling frequently our ministers are contributing to the Fijian economy!
So please cut some slack towards our frequent flyers.
Jagen Prasad, Samabula, Suva
Woman in church
Marrying a woman doesn’t mean she is your personal property.
Treat her with respect and kindness.
Make her your queen, love her and honour her and give her a reason to treat you the same.
Stop gender violence now.
Do not assault your wife because they give birth to humanity.
Hold your anger and channel it to a retaining wall or your banana or vudi plant in your backyard garden.
I concur with what my friend Tevita Seruilumi (FT 04/11), and I quote “It is never the purpose of any religious group to see women suffer or die as a result of violence or inhumane treatment” unquote.
“Bible speaks of respecting authority — lawful government, existing laws and policies. Violence against women and girls is a crime.”
Some Christian denominations often pick and choose Bible verses to further suppress women such as Ephesians 3:22
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
They often leave out verse 23 to 25 which says “25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” unquote.
I would love to be part of religious scholars in Fiji to discuss this issue because it’s affecting our women and girls every day.
If Reverend James Bhagwan is reading my letter, can you please organise a local forum?
I believe the Department of Social Services and Christian Citizenship of the MCOF are mum on these issues and so are other Christian
denominations?
We need concrete action rather than lip service.
Jioji M Cakacaka, Male Advocate on WHR, Votualevu, Nadi
Kumuls bounce back
THE Vodafone Fiji Bati found it hard to contain the PNG Kumuls onslaught on Sunday evening.
The Bati could not emulate the success of the previous week and their impressive 46-13 win over the Kumuls as they went down fighting 32-12 in the Pacific Bowl final.
The hosts outscored the Bati by five tries to two to walk away with the Bowl trophy.
Much to the delight of the home crowd, by half-time, the Kumuls had earned the win, as they held a comfortable 26-0 lead.
However, the Bati came alive in the second spell, as Waqa Blake scored two scintillating tries, but it was not enough as the Kumuls defended their line ferociously.
Unlike the first Test, the Bati did not capitalise on their chances to score points, and allowed the hosts to dominate possession and score points in the first spell.
The Kumuls had learned lessons from their first Test loss.
That’s the beauty of sports — you lose, and you work hard to earn a hard-fought victory!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
US and terrorism
After the end of Cold War, it is claimed that the US military industrial complex and US government agencies colluded to encourage terrorism to sell weapons.
When 9/11 happened on US soil, I believe only then it dawned on Americans that terrorism has no boundaries.
What followed is known to everyone.
I believe it is now the responsibility of the US to assist Israel stamp out all forms of terrorism.
For decades Bharat (India) suffered from terrorism.
The Modi government has almost eradicated this problem.
It has told both countries on its Eastern and Western borders that “talks and terror don’t go together”.
Therefore no negotiations until peace and tranquillity is maintained on the boarders.
I believe this applies to the Israel and Hamas war.
Rakesh Chand Sharma, Nadi
Whites reclaim Futsal IDC title!
Congratulations to the HLB Mann Suva Futsal team for reinstating their dominance in the 2023 Extra Supermarket Futsal inter-district tournament, claiming their fifth title.
The Whites walloped Western giants Nadi 6-2 in the final HLB Mann Suva reinstated its dominance in district futsal yesterday claiming their fifth title.
Suva beat Ba 3-2 in the semi-final, while Nadi beat the Babasiga Lions.
Suva had prominent futsal names in Shameet Kumar, Sunny Deol, Krishneel Singh, Ravneel Pal, Suraj Chand, Deepal Singh, and Aman Naidu.
The Whites had prepared well, after losing their supremacy to Ba in the 2022 Futsal IDC.
Suva goalie Shameet Kumar, who was overlooked for national duties, was awarded the Golden Glove award, while Baulevu High School teacher Rajneel Singh walked away with the Golden Ball award.
Suva was a class above the others, and I salute the Whites for playing their hearts out and reclaiming lost glory!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Fijian talent
Promoting Fijian talents, another four experienced local lawyers have just been sworn in by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo.
A great show of patriotism by our Coalition Government.
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Sea level
Sea level rise not a visible thing (FT 7/11) according to a climate change expert who has attended every climate conference.
It is a very visible thing according to many coastal communities in the Pacific and around the world.
And there are both anecdotal and empirical evidence for it.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Smokers’ alert
The Fiji Times on older smokers needing screening to detect lung cancer (FT 3/11) should alert all smokers and those intending to smoke in the future.
It’s best to stop smoking for good, for self and safety risk of passive smokers.
Quit smoking and nip it in the bud for the prevention of cancer.
Tahir Ali, Hamilton, New Zealand
Public transport
With the increasing number of vehicles on our road, and unnecessary accidents, maybe it’s high time we consider alternative public transportation means.
Between Lami to Suva and Nausori to Suva, would be a great start!
Koroi Seduadua, Lami
Stolen goods
Police targeting receivers for stolen goods in this festive season (FT 2/11) is a way forward to combat crime.
Where there is a market for such items the crime will continue to rise.
Those who receive should be punished more than those who supply.
Middlemen getting rich at the expense of the poor should be taken to task first to stop the crime.
Tahir Ali, Hamilton, New Zealand
Compromise factor
To my understanding, Japan did it.
After the atomic bomb solution, Japan is at peace today.
Germany did it.
After the Alliance army conquered them, Germany is at peace today.
There was no ceasefire nor compromise and peace resulted.
Israel is an expert in “historical survival” and I think, they do not need anyone’s advice.
They do not have to identify civilians, for whoever is not complying with their “warnings”, is not a civilian.
Compromise has never brought peace, never in all of history.
Especially in the Middle East.
Samu Silatolu, Nakasi
The hornet’s nest
Within the article: “PM gives five-word response to query” (FT 30/10), the qualifying remarks attributed to the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Mr Vosarogo, where he seems to lecture Israel on how to prosecute the current war in Gaza clearly shows a man out of his depth, no sense of the moment, a lightweight in this particular instance.
Stating the obvious to a friend, in Israel, a friend of Fiji, where the state of friendship is such that the nuances are understood and the adult understanding that exists precludes articulating the specifics that Mr Vosarogo detailed; literally throwing the book at Israel on the rules of war.
Really?
I wonder whether Mr Vosarogo has informed himself of the rules of war as regards legitimate military targets and proportionality.
As a lawyer he should know that how it is currently worded, legitimacy and proportionality can be matters of perception within the fog of war.
But to lecture a military power widely acknowledged as the most just in the execution of its wars, is rather rich.
I ask Mr Vosarogo, would he have preferred that things stayed the way they were on midnight of Friday, October 6?
As the PM said: “Who stirred the hornets’ nest?”
We also have a saying in iTaukei about stirring the boro ni pi.
I believe Israel is conducting a legitimate war according to the accepted international laws of war.
Like almost everything today, it is all couched in emotion and feelings rather than on facts.
No protest was seen for the Syrian, Yemen, Iraq casualties.
No restriction was placed on NATO and USA for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that ended up years and decades long respectively.
So why is Israel being lectured to after only a month in?
Is this virtue signalling by Mr Vosarogo?
If his sensibility is bruised by the images on TV, then switch it off.
Sa rauta mada.
Finally, let me inform Mr Vosarogo that the Arab world does not care about Palestinian lives, else Jordan, Egypt and the wider Arab world could have absorbed them since Israel declared itself a nation state in May, 1948, just as Israel absorbed Jews evicted from the Arab world, then.
If that happened, there would be no hornets’ nest to stir, eh?
Palestinian lives only matter when killed by Israel and the Jews.
Mareko Vuli, Delaidogo Settlement, Wainibuku, Nakasi
End the war
The steady recalls of the various ambassadors to Israel is a good sign which must be applauded for the sake of humanity in which over 10,000 Palestinian lives are lost in indignity and mounting humiliation, hurt, pain, suffering, loss and most of all over-bearing extended periods of being deregulated as “second class human beings.”
The endless 60-year occupation of their territories by “super power” Israel backed by the greatest nation, US must end today, not tomorrow.
The militarisation of the West Bank by Israel must cease forthwith.
The occupying Israeli settlers need to remove themselves from all Palestinian land.
In God’s name, all occupying Israelis must return to their own “homeland” – Palestine is not yours.
The US must stop all so-called peace talking and negotiation.
In no uncertain terms and clarity, tell Israelis to step away from all Palestinian soil.
Please let the depressed and humiliated hurt Palestinians live in peace.
Both Hamas and Israel are at forces of evil and destruction.
They are answerable to human right laws and must face swift justice.
They are guilty of genocide.
Despicable ongoing mass slaughter of Palestinian women, men, children, infants, elderly and war inflicted injuries.
No more talking.
There is no justification in perennial occupation Palestinian land.
Go home!
Give lasting peace a chance.
Justice delayed is always, justice denied.
Ronnie Chang, Martintar, Nadi
